Pocket-fastener.



R. POSTER.

POCKET FASTENER. APPLIGATION FILED ooT.ao,19oa.

lPM ENTED JULY 14, 190s.

RICHARD FOSTER, OF OAZENOVIA, NEW YORK.

POCKET-FASTENER.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application lfiled. October 30, 1906. Serial No. 341,352.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD FOSTER, of Oazenovia, in the county of Madison, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Fasteners, of which the following, .taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in pocket fasteners adapted to be incorporate in the front and back of any pocket of any garment as parts thereof for the purpose of closing the mouth of the pocket and preventing accidental `or malicious removal of the contents. In other words, I have sought toprovide any pocket with spring metal inserts or clasp sections which normally spring together to close the pocket, or may be positively locked together, as for instance, when the wearer wishes to secure certain valuables against pick pockets.

A further object is to not only conceal the clasp sections between thefabric layers of the pocket, but also to make such clasp sections or inserts sufiiciently thin to make their detection from the exterior practically im ossible.

ther objects and uses relating to the specific structure of the clasp sectlons will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a .pers ective view, partly in section, and partly roken away, of a portion of the pocket and my im proved clas attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a ongitudina sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the irmer clasp section. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the outer clasp section.`

This pocket Jfastener comprises essentially inner and outer comparatively thin spring metal strips orplates -1-, and -2-, the inner strip being inserted in a fold -3- on the main body of the pocket near its upper edge, and is provided near its marginal edges with apertures 1lfor receiving stitches, as -5-, which secure the plate or strip 1- in operative position, making it practically a art of t e garment. This strip -1- is tiierefore, concealed within the fold -3- and is provided with a substantially central vertical slot -6- and a lengthwise slot -7-, the latter being located in one end of the strip or plate +1-, the portions of the fold -3-a registering with said slots being cut away for a purpose presently described. The upper end of the slot -6- is enlarged for receiving the head, as -8, of a stud -9- which is rigidly secured to a spring -10 on the strip or section -2-.

A s ring bar 11- is mounted upon and -mova le lengthwise of the inner face of the strip or plate -1- and is provided with a stud -12- projecting through the lengthwise slot --7- and having an enlarged head -13- of greater diameter than the transverse width of the slotvto retain the springbar --11- in place upon the strip or plate --1-, the head -13- projecting into the pocket and serves as a iinger-piece whereby the bar -11- may be moved endwise. This sliding spring-bar -1 lis located between the slot -6- and end of the strip -1- nearest the slot -7-', being extended beyond the latter slot and is rigidly secured to the stud .-12-, whichis somewhat smaller in diameter than the width of the slot 7- to permit a limited lengthwise movement of the bar l 1 A portion of the strip 1a is slit or cut and pressed inwardly forming a loo -14- through which the adjacent end of t e spring bar -11- nearest the slot -6- is guided,`

said loop serving as a further means for retaining the spring-bar -11- in its operative position.

The end of the bar -11- nearest the slot -6- is movable to and from a position across the enlarged upper end of said slot, and when moved to its inner position across said slot it serves to lock the stud -9- in the lower contracted plortion of the slot d6;1 or rather prevents t e stud 9- from being allowed to register its enlarged head with the enlarged upper end of the slot -6-, in which position it might be withdrawn from locking engagement with the strip 1- when the bar 11- is shifted out of registration with the upper enlarged end of the slot -6-.

The spring strip or plate -2- is inserted into a fold -15- on the upper edge of the outer side of the pocket in alinement with the plate hf1# and is provided near its marginal edges with apertures -16- for receiving stitches *17* by which the strip or plate *2* is permanently secured to the outer flap or side of the outer flap, or side of the pocket, as *a*. The strip *2* is therefore, concealed within the fold *15* and is provided with an aperture *18* through which the stud -9* projects, said stud being rigidly secured to the spring bar *10* and has its inner end movable into and out of the slot *6*, and together with the strip *2* and fold *15* has a slight vertical movement to interlock the head *8* with the narrower lower portion of the slot *6*, the inner side of the fold *15* in registration with the slot *18* being perforated to receive the stud *9*.

Both plates 1 and *2* are curved to conform to the contour of the body near where the pocket is located and are spring tensioned toward each other so as to automatically close the mouth of the pocket, but

` in order to further lock the pocket in its closed position, l have provided the strip 2* with the stud *9* having an enlarged head *8* adapted to be passed through the enlarged upper end of the slot *6*, whereupon the stud is forced downwardly to bring the head 8* behind the reduced portion of said slot --6*, after which the sliding bar *11* is operated by the iinger through the medium of finger piece *13* and stud 12* to force the inner end of the bar *11* across the enlarged upper end ofthe slot *6* thereby locking the stud *9* in the slot against upward displacement or withdrawal, at the same time positively locking the upper edges of the pocket l to each other to prevent accidental or malicious removal of the contents of the pocket.

The spring-bar *10* extends lengthwise in opposite directions from the stud *9* and has its opposite ends bearing upon the plate *2*, while its central portion to which the stud *9* is secured, is tensioned outwardly so as to draw the head 9* irmly against the inner face of the bar *1* in the slot *6*, and also serves when detached from the plate orstrip *l* to draw the head *8* against the inner face of the strip *2* or fold *15*, thereby leaving a clear open space without obstructions or projectionswithin the pocket and preventing any liability of injury to the hngers or catching onto articles which are being inserted into or being removed from the pocket.

As shown in Fig. 2, one end of the springbar *10* is secured to the strip or plate *2* by a rivet *20*, the other end being free to slide longitudinally to allow for the spring action of the central portion of the spring-bar 10.

In operation, assuming that the spring strips *1* and *2* are inserted in the manner described, into their respective folds *3* and 15*, then when it is desired to close the mouth of the pocket against removal of its contents, the spring strip or plate *2* is pressed inwardly, by hand, sufliciently to force the head *8* through the enlarged upper end of the slot 6*, whereupon the stud *9* is depressed, also by hand, to force the head *8* into engagement with the contracted lower portion ol the slot *6*, after which the sliding bar 11*v is moved endwise, by hand, through the medium of the head 13 until its end adjacent to the stud *9* extends partially across the upper enlarged end of the slot *6*, thereby locking the stud *9* against upward displacement and preventing the separation ofthe plates *1* and *2* until after the bar *11* is returned to its inoperative position.

When it is desired to gain access to the pocket the wearer of the garment having a pocket simply withdraws the lock bar *11* from across the upper end of the slot 6*, which permits the stud *'9* to be elevated, bringing the head *8* into registration with the upper enlarged head of said slot *6*, whereupon the plates *1* and *2* may be sprung apart, the spring *10* serving to automatically withdraw the stud outwardly through the slot *6* and into engagement with the inner face of the plate *2* or the inner side of the fold *l5* leaving the inner surfaces of the pocket practically smooth.

What I claim is:

1. In a pocket fastener, a spring plato secured to one side of the mouth of a pocket and provided with a vertical slot at a point intermediate its ends, said slot slightly tapering downwardly and having an enlarged upper end, another spring plate secured to the opposite side of the pocket and provided with a circular aperture alining with the said slot, a spring arm secured at one en d to said latter plate and provided with a stud movable through said aperture and slot, said stud being provided with an enlarged head to prevent its removal from said aperture and adapted to retain said stud within the tapering portion of said slot and movable means for locking the stud in said slot.

2. In a pocket fastener, a spring plate secured to one side of the mouth of a pocket and provided with a transverse V-shaped slot at a point intermediate its ends, said slot having a rounded and enlarged upper end, another spring plate secured to the opposite side of the pocket and provided with a circular aperture normally alining with the rounded end of said slot, a spring arm se- 'cured at one end to said latter plate and provided with a stud movable through said aperture and slot end, the latter named spring plate being capable of limited vertical movement, for positioning the stud Within the i In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my taperingd portion of said slot, said stud being hand this 26th day of October 1906. provide with an enlarged head to retain said stud Within the tapering portion and said RICHARD FOSTER' 5 iirst named late having a longitudinally slid- Witnesses:

able spring ar for looking said stud Within H. E. CHASE, said slot. i M. M. NOTT. 

